Day 21 - Kip's Irish Pub

June 25, 2010 - Had a nice outing with my best friend at Kip's Irish Pub.  It was a quiet evening with only a few people in the pub.  There was live music by a Minnesota songwriter/musician Bettina Villamil with drums, guitar/violin, piano and singing.

I go out periodically with this friend, so it's only appropriate that he gets to be the first for the list item #18.  I only get to count him once for this!

Day 16 - A camping trip to Wild River State Park

On June 19-20, 2010 E. and I went camping at Wild River State Park.

K. already was way for the weekend at her first church camp and E. wanted something to do.  *She* chose to go camping.  So on a Friday evening on what was going to be a very good weather weekend in Minnesota, it's nearly impossible to find an open campsite for the next day.  We were lucky and found a site at Wild River State Park.  That was ideal, because it was over half-way to where we needed to pick up K. on early Sunday afternoon.




So on Saturday morning we finished packing and set out.  It's only a couple of hours away.  We found our site, set up the large tent, and then went off exploring.

My "family" tent is a circa-1985 Eureka! cabin tent.  It's heavy, is well constructed, and will probably last forever.  It's only so-so if it rains.  Compared to today's tents, it has very little coverage from the rain cover.  You can stand up in it and it fits two people with cots/lounge chairs nicely.  I have two lawn chairs that fold out flat.  They work OK as a cot.

In just about 24 hours, we hiked down to the St. Croix River twice, went to the visitor's/nature center twice, had s'mores twice, and went to a story time/campfire program.  Since it wasn't a drive-in camp site, we certainly went back-and-forth to the car more than twice! 


Here you'll see a picture of a near-perfect s'more.  The marshmallow was wonderfully toasted by E. and the chocolate bar was already slightly soft.  When all put together, I had to get a picture.  Enjoy!


The second round of s'mores was as the story time program hosted by the park.  They brought in an actor/story-teller who did an approximately hour-long program filled with history and stories as he acted the part of a lumber businessman in the St. Croix in the 1850's to 1890's.  Mixing in some Paul Bunyan stories made it quite fun!

The weather was a bit cloudy until around 8 PM Saturday and then cleared up nicely.  A mostly full moon, clear sky, and nearly the summer solstice, not to mention that it was Father's Day on Sunday.


K. had a good time at her camp, but she definitely wants to be a part of our next trip!

Day 2 - No Shortcuts to the Top (item #30)

I completed book #1 out of 12. 


No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks by Ed Viesturs with David Roberts 

"I've learned in climbing that you don't conquer anything. Mountains are not conquered and should be treated with respect and humility. If we take what the mountain gives, have patience, and desire, and are prepared, then the mountains will allow us to reach their highest peaks. I believe a lot of things are like that in life." --Ed Viesturs, from "No Shortcuts to the Top"  

I like that he uses the phrase "will allow us to reach." Allowing is very much different than conquering. Apparently, as a climber in the Himalaya, you have to be very patient, waiting many days to make the ascent at the right time when the mountain and the weather allows.


Why do you do it?  Ed writes, "The non-mountaineer watching my slide show sees mostly suffering, cold, risk, and even loss-of-life.  Simply by nature, I'm extremely goal-oriented and personally motivated.  I like things that aren't not too easy; that don't come to quickly. The mountains are a beautiful arena in which to face such challenges. On top of that you face them with a few carefully chosen friends who have similar goals, aspirations, and work ethics.  A great climb is a wonderful mixture of difficulty and intimacy.  The challenge is both physical and mental. Finally big-range mountaineering is addictive."


There are a number of interesting elements to this book that appeal to the outdoorsman in me.  However, it doesn't make me want to become a mountain climber!  It does however offer interesting thoughts for my outdoor travels.  Even beyond that though there are life-lessons.  It is a story of setting goals, overcoming obstacles both big and small, taking one step at a time, figuring out how to climb your mountain (your Annapurna) and ultimately achieving something that seems unfathomable when looked at in the whole. 

And so it begins

On your mark... get set... go.  All systems go.  We have lift-off.  The 40 Before has begun.

I took another critical look at my list this evening.  I wanted to make sure everything was in order.  I see a few that are tough and others that are easier.  After some consideration, I kept them as is.  I found a few spelling errors and such.  I also have a couple undisclosed items that would work well as alternates if I need to remove something and replace it.

Tomorrow I'll mark my first item off.